On 1st September 2026, The University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB), in collaboration with GS Byumba Catholic, hosted a Global Goals Week event under the GREATER Project, bringing together young people, UTAB staff and students, GS Byumba leadership, EU/GREATER Project partners, and community members to explore practical approaches to sustainable development.
The theme of the event: “From Learning to Action: Empowering Young People and Communities through Living Labs for Sustainable Development,” the event provided a platform for participants to learn, exchange ideas, and explore innovative solutions to challenges affecting their communities.
The event emphasizes the importance of moving beyond theoretical learning by creating opportunities for young people to actively participate in addressing real-world challenges. Through the Living Labs approach, participants were encouraged to work collaboratively, test ideas, develop innovative solutions, and contribute to sustainable development within their communities.
In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of UTAB encouraged participants to actively engage throughout the event, exchange ideas, and learning from diverse perspectives and experiences. He emphasized the importance of translating knowledge into practical action through innovation, collaboration, and meaningful community engagement. He further highlighted the need for participants to use the knowledge and experiences gained during the event to develop practical solutions that can contribute to sustainable development and create a lasting impact within their communities.
The Vice Chancellor further highlighted the important role of young people in driving sustainable development, noting that their creativity, knowledge, and willingness to take action can contribute significantly to addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.
The Global Goals Week event also creates an opportunity for participants to strengthen collaboration between educational institutions and communities. By connecting learning with practical experiences, the initiative seeks to empower participants to become active contributors to sustainable development and positive change.
The discussions during the event focused on three main areas:
- Raising Awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The event provided an opportunity to raise awareness among pupils, students, educators, university staff, local leaders, and community members about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relevance to local development. Particular emphasis was placed on connecting global development priorities with practical actions and challenges at the community level. - Showcasing the Contribution of the GREATER Project
Participants reflected on and showcased the contribution of the GREATER Project to promoting innovative, practical, and sustainable approaches to higher education in Rwanda, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, green practices, skills development, research, and community engagement. - Demonstrating the Role of the UTAB Living Lab
The event demonstrated the role of the UTAB Living Lab at GS Byumba as a practical platform for learning, innovation, experimentation, research, and community engagement.
The event demonstrated the shared commitment of UTAB and GS Byumba Catholic to nurturing a generation of young people equipped not only with knowledge, but also with the practical skills, creativity, confidence, and innovative mindset needed to transform ideas into meaningful action. The event concluded by visiting the UTAB Living Lab at GS Byumba and were guided through its key facilities and installations.